INTRODUCTION

Folded plates are assemblies of flat plates rigidly connected

together along their edges in such a way that the structural system
capable of carrying loads without the need for additional
supporting beams along mutual edges.
Folded structures are spatial structures formed by the elements in the
plane, different in form and materialization. The straight elements
forming a folded construction can be of various shapes:
rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular.
By combining these elements we get different forms resulting in a
variety of shapes and remarkable architectural expression.

Tempodrom, Berlin

Folded plates in NATURE Folded plates in EVERYDAY OBJECTS

Sea shells Huge Leaves Origami Lamps Window blinds Hand fans
Basics of FOLDING

The structural characteristics of folding structures depends upon

• The pattern of folding

• Their geometrical basic shape: rectangular, trapezoidal or

triangular

• Material

• Connection of different folding plates

• The design of the bearing

Structural behavior of FOLDED PLATES

• External forces are transferred to the

shorted edge of one folding element
• The reaction as an axial force is divided
between the adjacent elements
• Then the force is transferred to the
bearings

• Bending in folded plates causes top

compression and bottom tension
• Folded plates also tend to flatten out
under gravity load, which may be
Vertical load gets
prevented by walls or frames at end distributed
supports
• Tendency of end panel buckling can be
Stabilized against
resisted by edge beams buckling at top and
bottom by adjoining
plates
 FOLDED PLATE
STRUCTURE SYSTEMS
Folded Plate Structures Folded Plate Frames

Linear Additions
Folded Plate Domes Continuous

Pyramidal

Linear Additions Two Hinged

Polyhedral

Three Hinged
Radial Additions

Combination

Combination
of additions Barrel - Cylindrical
 TYPOLOGY

Shape of folded structure affects the transmission of load and direction of relying of folded structures.
Based on these parameters we can differentiate the folded structures under:

1. Linear Folded Plate Structure 2. Radial Folded Plate Structure 3. Spatial Folded Plate Structure

Basic Elements of Folded Plate Structures:

1. Inclined Plates
2. Edge Plates used to stiffen the wide plates
3. Stiffeners to carry the load to the supporters and to hold plates in position
4. Columns to support the structure
 TYPOLOGY: TAPERED FOLDED PLATE

• Height at the center of the span is

a critical dimension to calculate
bending strength. Due to this, the
structure is not very efficient and
T not suitable for large spans.

• Another weak element is the

transfer of shear from the smaller
end of the plate to the larger end.
If a large number of units are used
in each span, the transfer of loads
C may get difficult.
T
C • A folded plate may be used for
walls as a thin structural element.
A wall of this type can be made
C much thinner than a flat wall.
TYPOLOGY: FOLDED PLATE TRUSS

• There are horizontal ties across

the width of structure only at the
ends of the form. The load from
the triangular crossed arches
are carried towards the ends.

• The top chord of the inclined

truss is formed by a ridge
member. The bottom chords are
T the ties at the base of the side
T gables.
T
• This is truly a space structure and
its structural action is as shown,
therefore, the architectural
appearance is more subtle than
the usual shell structure.
C
TYPOLOGY: FOLDED PLATE RIGID FRAME

• An arch with straight segments is

T sometimes called a Rigid Frame.
T
• It is not as efficient as the curved
C arch because the bending
moments are greater.

• Ties across the plates are

C required at the knees and at the
crown in order to distribute the
forces at the ends of each
segment.
TYPOLOGY: EDGE SUPPORTED FOLDED PLATE

T • Roof structure can be made to

appear very thin if the edge plate
is replaced by a series of columns.

• The slab between columns must

be designed as a beam and it
may be convenient to extend the
main roof slab as a Cantilever.

• Vertical columns at the crown of

C C C the gable take the reactions of
the plates and the horizontal ties
may be eliminated.
TYPOLOGY: WALLS CONTINUOUS WITH SHELL

• In this structure the walls are of tilt-up

concrete construction; concrete is cast
flat on the floor and raised into place
by cranes.

• The walls are designed to be

continuous with the roof plates. In this
design, columns are not necessary at
the junction of the individual side wall
panels because the walls are braced
T at the top.
T
• The tilt-up panels can serve as their
own foundation walls so only a
continuous footing pad is used with a
notch to receive the tilt-up panel.
C
C • The tilt-up walls are held at the top by
the shell and act as vertical beams
rather than as Cantilever Retaining.
TYPOLOGY: THREE SEGMENT FOLDED PLATE

• The forces from the reactions of the

sloping plates on these rigid frames
will be quite large and at an outside
column they will not be balanced by
thrusts from the adjacent plates.

• The size of the frames may be

reduced by using a steel tie
between the tops of the columns
C which can be concealed in the
fenestration. The dimensions of the
T T plates are dependent on both the
width of the barrel and on the span.

• The depth of the shell should be

about 0.1 times the span and the
maximum slope of a plate should not
C be greater than 40 degrees.
 APPLICATIONS
Folded structures have found the application in architectural buildings and engineering structures. Based on the position in the
architectural structure, this type of construction can be divided into: roof, floor and wall folded constructions

AS ROOF STRUCTURES : The largest number of examples of folded structures are roof structures. The need for acquiring the larger
range and more cost effective structure led to the emergence of this type of structure. The development of spatial structures led
to the exceptional formal solutions which directly influenced the aesthetics and visual identity of the building.

Folding a flat surface increases its strength it can be demonstrated when

you compare the strength of flat paper and folded paper
- Folded roofs are usually made up of reinforced concrete
- Flat roofs can be built with minimum thickness with span upto 20 m

Wexler folded plate roof houses

AS FLOORS : Floor structures can be performed by using folded structures. This type of construction is carried out by using
different materials: reinforced concrete, steel sheets, wood.

• Mezzanine ceiling can be executed as a wooden folded construction and it

represents a parallel "V" crease with elements of veneer or OSB composite,
placed between the horizontal elements of cut solid wood. This type of ceiling
is called "Kielsteg"

• These metal sheets can also be used for flooring As the folded structure inside the
plates provides the Strength
AS WALL STRUCTURES :Walls can be designed and carried out as
folded structures, since by folding we get a solid construction that
can accept large vertical and horizontal impacts, which enables
exceptional height of the wall fabric. This type of folded structures,
due to their geometry, provides an economical solution and the
rational use of material when compared to the height of the building.
Walls made as folded structures can be materialized in reinforced
concrete

Notre Dame, Royan, France

AS STEEL SHEET PILES: Securing of foundation pits, especially if the ground is

under water, is more frequently performed by using profiled steel sheet piles
and this way of security also represents the application of folded.
By using this piles the foundation pits of
great depth can be secured. Joints are
constructed to allow certain rotation, and
thus the opportunity to carry out the walls
of steel sheet piles in the bends as well. This
type of security of the foundation pits
represents a vertical folded structure of
steel and this type of pile is called Larsen
planks
 MATERIALS OF FOLDED SLABS

Folded structures made of reinforced concrete : Concrete is the most

commonly applied material for creases. A large number of authors
define folded construction as the construction made only from
reinforced concrete. The reason for this statement is the fact that most
of the folded structures are made of this material.

Metal folded structures : Metal folded structures can be derived from

trapezoidal sheet or truss. Folded constructions made of metal, steel or
aluminum, consist of belts and diagonal bars of infilling. The construction of
such folded structures does not require formwork or powerful pumps.
Deformation and stability in the design of metal truss structures are of great
importance. Height of trapezoidal plate affects the size of a range that can
also handle its load capacity.

Folded structures of wood : Folded structures made of wood are easy to transport, handle and assembly. This type of prefabricated
folds on the basis of the primary supporting structure of a fold segment can be divided into: panel and truss.
Panel folded constructions of wood :
Folded constructions of wood are usually formed as a panel
Folded construction of wooden trusses :
Elements of folded structure could be formed of wooden trusses. By combining the trusses we can get different forms of folded
structures. Connection of trusses is done on site
OTHER MATERIALS : Other than these many different materials can be used for folded slabs like
glass, plastic and combination of different materials . And all these will have different pros and
cons and their strengths will vary
A D V A N T A G E S A N D D I S A D V A N T A G E S OF FOLDED-PLATE STRUCTURE

Advantages:
-Very light form of construction. To span 30 m shell thickness required is 60mm only
-The use of concrete as a building material reduces both materials cost and construction
cost.
-Longer span can be provided.
-Flat shapes by choosing certain arched shapes.
-Aesthetically it looks good over other forms of construction

Disadvantages:
-Shuttering is difficult.
-Greater accuracy in formwork is required.
-Good labour and supervision necessary
-Rise of roof may be a disadvantage.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY CADET CHAPEL

IT IS DESIGNED BY WALTER NETSCH OF SKIDMORE OWINGS AND MERRILL ,

BUILT IN COLORADO UNITED STATES IN 1962. THE BUILDING HAS STEEL FOLDED
PLATE AND TRUSS STRUCTURE COMPOSED OF 100 IDENTICAL TETRAHEDRON
FORMING 17 SPIKES. EACH TETRAHEDRON IS CLADDED WITH ALIMUNIUM
PANELS WORKING TOGETER WITH TRUSSES TO DISTRIBUTE LOADS THE BUILDING
HAS A RECTANGULAR PLAN WHICH HAS LENGTH OF 85 METERS A WIDTH OF T
26 METERS AND A HEIGHT OF 45.72 METERS.
THE CREASE PATTERN OF THE BUILDING IS DIAMOND PATTERN.
THE STRUCTURE IS A TUBULAR STEEL FRAME CONSISTING OF 100 IDENTICAL
TETRAHEDRONS, EACH 23M LONG AND WEIGHING 5TN, COATED ALUMINUM
PANELS. TETRAHEDRONS 0,30CM ARE SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER, C
CREATING HOLES IN THE FRAME ARE FILLED WITH STAINED GLASS 25MM
THICK.
 YOKOHAMA INTERNATIONAL PORT TERMINAL
IT IS BUILT IN OSANBASHI JAPAN , IN 2002.IN HIS BOOKS MOUSSAVI
T
DEFINES THIS STRUCTURE AS FOLDED PLATE AND TRUSS AND GRIDER
WHERE THE STEEL PLATE AND TRUSS FOLDED SURFACE SPANS TWO STEEL T
GRIDER BRIDGES THAT TOGETHER DEFINES THE LONGITUDINAL SPINE OF
THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM. THE BUILDING HAS A RECTANGULAR PLAN
THAT EXPANDS AND COMPRESS ALONG THE CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL C
AXIS. THE BUILDING HAS LENGTH OF 430 METERS AND A WIDTH OF 70 C
METERS AND A HEIGHT OF 15 METERS
THE BUILDING HAS THREE FLOORS INCLUDING THE BASEMENT. THE
FOLDED PLATE APPEARS ON FIRST AND SECOND FOORS CEILING
Structural Elements

● The building is steel framed, consisting of main beams (girders)

on the two sides and a triangular pyramid (folded plates)
system to support the roof and floors.

● These results in a massive column-less interior space, with

external walls all made with tempered glass. In short, wood,
steel and glass are what constitute the Terminal.

● The strength of the materials minimizes the need for vertical

supports and allows for a mostly open floor plan, while the
height of the structure allows for a spectacular variety of ceiling
conditions in the interior spaces.
VIDY THEATRE
IT IS BUILT BY ATELIER CUBE , YVES WEINLAMD ARCHITECTS
IN LUSANNE SWITZERLAND.THE STRUCTURE IS DOUBLE
LAYERED TIMBER FOLDED STRUCTURE. THE PLYWOOD
BOARDS ARE 40 MM THICK AND THERE IS A 25 CM SPACE
BETWEEN TWO FOLDED PLATE LAYERS. THE PLYWOOD
BOARDS ARE CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER BY AN
INTERLOCKING CHAMFERED DOUBLE THROUGH TENON
JOINTS . THE BUILDING AS RECTANGULAR PLAN , LENGTH 28
METERS WIDTH 21 METERS AND A HEIGHT OF 21 METRES AN INTERLOCKING -CHAMFERED
THE PATTERN IS COMBINATION OF QUADILATERAL AND DOUBLE THROUGH TENON JOINTS .
TRIANGULAR UNITS THUS CREATING A MIXED PATTERN.
MULIMATT SPORT CENTRE
IT IS BUILT BY STUDIO VACCHINI IN ARGAU SWITZAERLAND, THE
STRUCTURE IS PRECAST CONCRETE FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURE
COMPOSED OF 27 FRAMES UNITS CREATING A RECTANGULR PLAN
AND A BOX LIKE FORM. THE BUILDING HAS LENGTH OF 80 METERS
WIDTH OF 52 METERS AND HEIGHT OF 11 METERS.
THE PATTERN USED IN THIS STRUCTURE IS A MIXTURE OF
QUADILATERAL AND DIAMOND SHAPED UNITS THE FOLDED PLATE
STRUCTURE CONSISTS OF LINEARLY TRANSLATED 27 ROWS.